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Beyond Bars

Beyond Bars: My past is still catching up with me, but that’s OK

The other night a woman rang my doorbell. When I answered, she asked in her best non-threatening voice, “Hi, are you Brian?” Of course, I said, “Yes.”However, I was not fooled, this lady was not a friend. I knew exactly what this was, this was my old life catching up with me. As soon as ...

Beyond Bars: Columnist recalls a lesson of positivity from former cellmate

In the month before I left prison, another prisoner said to me, “I can tell you and your cellie are both short-timers, because you guys are way too happy for this place.” The interesting part about that was my cellie Paul was not a short-timer or even close. Paul is serving a life sentence ...

Beyond Bars: First vacation after prison leaves me feeling inspired

Most prisoners dream about specific things they want to do when they get out. I was no different. I expressed these in an article I wrote before I left prison.First, I wanted to completely submerge myself in a large body of water, and secondly, I wanted to be outside, all by myself, without any ...

Beyond Bars: Grateful to be out of prison — and alive — this Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. It’s a day originally set aside for those men and women who laid down their lives for our country; however, it’s become a day to remember any loved ones lost.In the last month alone, three people that I knew personally, lost their lives from drugs. According to a ...

Beyond Bars: Old prison diet contained plenty slices of humble pie

When you are first sent to live in the Utah State Prison, you are locked in a cell for all but one hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And even on your hours out, the only thing to do is go take a shower and walk around in an empty “dayroom.” This period is called R&O, which ...

Beyond Bars: Exercise and fitness have been critical in addiction recovery

My state issued counselor recently told me he isn’t worried about me going back to prison, using drugs again, or having difficulty acclimating to the free world. As a result of this assessment I am no longer required to participate in any counseling or substance abuse classes. I’m done with ...

Beyond Bars: The stigma of prison, parole

<span class="m_3421502324869305018m_-380235897789341531gmail-s1">So I was just leaving the Jazz game the other night and thought about the time. It was just after 9 p.m. and it was dark outside. A year before, I was locked in my cell and waiting for an officer to count me and make ...